Tractor and portable drilling machine



Jul 14, 1925. I 1,546,207

I W. R. COX

TRACTOR AND PORTABLE DRILLING MACHINE Filed March 19- 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 wrruzsszsz- 411mm July 14, 1925. 1,546,207

' W. R. COX

TRACTOR AND PORTABLE DRILLING MACHINE Filed March 19- 1924 3 Sheetg-Sheet 2 William E. Cox

b my 5W WITNESSE5: ATTORNIY July 14,

W. Rv COX TRACTOR AND PORTABLE DRILLING MACHINE Filed March 19. 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 5 H v Q 2 by R. A Mi Qh K? Xi Q William E. Cox

attoi "e1 Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM B. COX, OF BAIRD, TEXAS.

'rrmc'ron AND ronrlnnn DRILLING MACHINE.

Application filed March 19, 1884. Serial No."700,885.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. Cox, a citizen of the United States, residin at Baird, in the county of Callahan and tate of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tractor and Portable Drilling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drilling rigs and has for its object the provision of a tractor type or portable machine for drilling oil or other wells, cleaning them, fishing for broken rods, pulling tubing and other similar purposes, the main feature being the elimination of the usual pulle and belt drive mechanism which is rep aced by a worm drive throughout whereby slippage and other disadvantages of the well known mechanism will be avoided and positive 80- tion assured.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which may be propelled under its own 'power from place to place where its services are needed and which will therefore be more convenient to use than the ordinary type.

An additional object is the provision of a drilling rig which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to control and operate, positive in action, efiicient and durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device with the driving wheel in operative position,

Figure 2 is a top plan view,.

a Figure 3 is a longitudinal section with the tractor wheel removed and showing the device ready for drilling,

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections on the lines 44 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1.

F'g. 6 is a detail view of the transmission mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I have shown the device as comprising a supporting frame including longitudina sills 10 connected by any suitable number of cross bars 11. Any desired axle structure 11 may be provided for supporting'this frame upon ground engaging front wheels 12 so that the device may be transported easily from place to place. Any suitable steering mechanism is provided for these front wheels. The sills are so constructed as to support an engine 13 of a well known tractor type, which engine includes a. combined crank and transmission case 14, a radiator 15 and a gasoline tank 16.

Extending longitudinally through the crank and transmission case 14 is a drive shaft 17 having crank portions 18 connected with the engine pistons in' the usual manner. This shaft is of sufficient-length to extend to the front of the frame where; it is equip ed with the usual crank 19 for effecting startm of the engine. The shaft also is equippe with a clutch device .20 and transmission gears 21 engaging other gears 22 on a shaft 23 carrying a worm 24, j The-forward portion of the shaft v1;? carries a worm 25. The non-essential details ofFth'e" casing and engine constructionare 'notjillustrated as they are well known and as they' ma be changed within comparatively.- wide limits as may be found necessary or advisable in the actual construction of the'machine. Rising from the central ortion of the frame are posts 26 carrying earings 27 for the shaft 28 of a pulley 29 for the drilling cable 30. Rising from the rear end of the frame are samson posts 31 connected by a cross member 31. Carried by the shaft 28 and operating between the samson posts is the spudding beam 32. I

At the rear end of the combined casing 14 is journaled a. shaft 33 carrying a worm wheel 34 meshing with the shaft carries a crank arm 35 to which may be bolted a removable traction wheel 35 when the machine is to be moved or to which is connected the lower end of the drilling pitman 36 when the machine is to be used. The pitman 36 carries a shaft 37 located above the spudding beam 32 and equi ped with a pulley 38 about which istrained the drilling cable 30 above described. Any suitable truss rods 39 may be provided for bracing the rear portion of thestructure.

' Carried by the sills in advance of the post 26 are suitable bearings 40 on a shaft 41 carrying the usual drilling line drum 42 and also carrying a large spur gear 43. On the sills are other bearings 44 for a shaft 45 equipped with a spur pinion 46 meshing with the gear 43, and further equipped with a friction pulley 47.

At the front end of the frame are posts or worm 24. This standards 48 carrying bearings 49 for a shaft 50 carrying a bailer line drum 51 for the bailer cabie 52. This shaft is also equipped with a friction pulley 53.

Suitably journaled below the sills near their front ends is a counter-shaft 54 carrying a worm wheel 55 meshing with the worm 25, and also carrying afiber friction pulley 56 which engages'both of the pulleys 47 and 53.

from place to place, the Wheel is hoited onto the arm 35 and then acts as a traction wheel, power being applied to the worm gearing above described. When the device has been moved to a point where its operation is desired, the wheel 35" is removed and the pitman 36 bolted onto the arm 35. To take the place of thewheel I .provide a sup port 57 adapted to-be engaged beneath the rear end of the frame for holding it at the proper height, which would naturally be the same as its height when the wheel is in place.

The device is readily portable by bolting on the wheel 35 so that it may be under its own power. when movedfrom plac #0 Place wherever its use is desired. Obviously the machine need not be restricted in its use for drilling purposes, as it is capable of employment for many other operations incidental to the drillin cleaning or other treatment of oil or ot ier wells.

WVhile I have shown and described the prepaging .ergi'gg in "1 Wm mi ahoue ferred embediment of my invention it is of course to be understood that l reserve the right to make suchchanges in the form, construction and-arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim: I y

In a machine of the character described, a frame having front wheels equipped with steering means, a motor on the frame, a shaft driven by the motor, a transverse shaft at the rear end of the machine having a worm driven connection with said first named shaft and carrying a crank arm, drilling mechanism on the frame adapted to be operated by said crank arm and including a pitman connectable therewith, and a tmction Wheel adapte to be halted onto said crank arm subsequent to the disconnection of the pitman therefrom whereby the entire device may be propelled under its own power.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM R. COX. 

